Means for controlling the illumination of vehicles.



W. S. MENDEN. I MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ILLUMINATION 0F VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEILZ, I913.

' Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

4 SKEETS-SH1IBT 1.

. WWW

THE NORRIS PETERS Ca. FHOT0 LITH 0.. WASHINGTON. D. C

W. S. ME NDEN. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ILLUMINATION 0F VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2, I913. 1,135,605. Patented Alan-13, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

M 3m 4% I Wm M m THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHoTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON. a Cv w. s. MENDEN.

mums ron commune THE ILLUMINATION 0F VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2, 1913- i 1,135,605, I Patented Apr. 13,, 1915.

4 SHEBT SSHBET 3.

hu l. lluh THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHOJWASHINGIDN. D. t

w. s. MENDEN. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ILLUMINATIONOF VEHICLES. APPLICATION EILED DEE-2} 1913- 1,135,605. Patented Apr'.13, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 00.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

WVILLIAMYMENV'DENQ {0r- BBooKnYNQ NEW yomassmmn rofiivineosm'coivrrnni, s "I1\IG;,'AGOR-PORAT,ION-OF nan/ 03 I l I ivr ANsroaconmnonniivemnn nm mnwwmcms.

for Controlling the Illuminationof Vehi I cles, of g which the following isaj'full and s clear'specification. i 1'01,

This {invention relates to means for iillu' minat'in'g vehicles and has for its primary. 7 object to provide an {improved illuminating system for passenger vehicles which travel 1 successively in daylight and darkness, such 'for'; example as some of the' mo dernrapid transit subway passengencarswhich insome places travel above'thefground; V r

" objects" in invention... f I r v 1 objects will appear in the claims, reference "being had to the "accompanying drawings in which my inven g will be lighted and continue to burn; as long I Morevspecific'ally, the present 7 invention contemplates the provision of suitable means depending upon the movement of the vehicle which carriesthe illurninating sys f term for successively energizing and def energizing the lights atf or; adjacent theterminal points of the zonesofilight and darks I g I 1 trolley'line 16- through wires 12 and 13 to ilampsfi, 4,3,2 and l,'thence by line lli v This invention furthermorecontemplates certain details of "construction. "combine- "tion and arrangement of parts in 1 an illu- Ininating" system for vehicles, which will 'make it possible to: accomplish the objects "set down in a simple and ,effi'cientnmanner'.

' Durability. of parts and economyin operation. also constitute some of the minor Other v and further 1 I tion is exemplified.

' vation; F1g.;;:4lis a -,section on the line IV+ IV, Fig. v3, partsbeingshowntin elevai In the drawings Figure 1. E a-diagram matic'al plan view of an 'electric circuit for an" illuminating system, according to the present invention; FigfQ is a idiag'rammati cal plan view of another 3 embodiment of the same; Fig. 3 isa vertical section *of the .mechanism for automaticallycontrolling the 'e nergization and deenergization of the lighting system, parts .being'shown in eletion";';Fig.'5 is a side elevation -of the contact wheel-on an enlarged scale;.Fig. 6 is .an axial section offthesame; Fig. 7' is a 5 fragmentary detail to'bef hereinafter re ferred to. v a

' inpfificatioh mea'isetgm'r a, 1913. l se i'mm'i. 80%,224.

""Referringmore particularly to theidraw [I s "'ings; rinfthe'embodiment shown in Fig. l'aff plurality ofcar lights 1, 2 3, 4,5 are ar v ranged in-pfairs. Leading fromthe/trolley} filine 16 Visa wire 15 which is .connected byf a switch 14 "to the line .wires 12' and. 13.;

, These wires connect thelamps V 551.4,(3, 2.1 and 1 throughout'in parallel Se? "ries. Aline wirellwhich connects thepair of lampsl in parallel leads"'directlyflfroin said lam s 1 to ani automatic circuit making and breaking instrumentality, desig wire 9 ,leadingto a batteryj16,fsaid battery battery'ffi to a line 17: and by a line 17 to.

switch 141is closed the current passes from -'Specificationof i ettersIatentf 13, I

'nated generallyby the'reference' numeral '10.; I Leading-from the circuit coi'itrollingg in-' strumentalitylOis a'wire9-which'joins a," I "Z0 5 beingfconnected: through a wire 7to the "v 'ground'line 8. The wire 9' leads fromthe through :thecircuit. making and breaking" instrumentality 10, backlthrough'line 9- 'to wire '9, where the curre'nt-fisfsplitfgoing through batteryfi'and wire to groundline" 8' andthrough; line 9 'tofiline 17 emergency whenthe trolley circuit "is closed and the circuit makingf and breaking instrumentality has been operated to close the circuit, all. lamps including the emergency lamps so arranged that the emergency lamps will as" the v current ma iI 1g instrumental'ity maintains a closed circuit. .The circuits are I be lighted at all times either'by the trolley;

current'or by the battery current. If by thelatter thecurrent will pass from battery" 6 through wire 9to' wire 17, lamps18to? wire 19 which is gr undedQat'QOItO line 8'.

At night time or in situations generally where there is COIIfiIlHaldaI'knQSS; the cirthe circuits just mentioned, a 1 switch 21 is 'cuit controlling 'instrumentality 10 is unde-f i sirable.'= In order'to maintain thev current in I 1 5 provided in short circuitingfshunt, include f ing the branches'22 and23'which are connectedrespectively with the wires 9 and I i described. As'shown-in Fig. 3, thelead wire 9 enters the triphousing 30 and is by good conductors and insulators alter- V Suitable fuses 24 are preferably interposed between the switch 14 and the line wires 12 and 13.

According to the em lodiment shown in Fig. 2,,the trolley line '16 delivers currentbye-a wire 25fprovided iwith a switch 26 to :the lamps 27 arranged in a plurality of series, said lamps being connected by a line 28 with the instrumentality 10 for making and breaking'the circuit automatically by means to be hereinafter described, which are operated at predetermined points of travel, the operation of the samebeing dependent upon the movement of the vehicle! The instrumentality 10 is groundedby the line,

29 in the. ground line 8.]

Referring now to Figs?) to 'Zinolusive,

.the current controlling mechanism will be connectedwith the fixed-contact The wire 11 isqconnected to asuitable binding post 32 which is mounted on the outer wall of the housing 30. The fixed contact is adapted to beengaged successively by a plurality of "fingers which are constituted natelyQ In the present embodiment, fingers are arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to project radially from a'hub 38. Fig. 5, eight radially disposed arms 34 and 35 are mounted upon the hub 33 and uniformly spaced to formangles of 45, with each other. It will-be noted that the arms 35 are pivotally mounted upon pins 36 which are carried bythe hub 33, said] arms 35,

.beingyieldably supported at their outer ends by means of the springs .37. whichrespectively connect each of the movable arms with one of'the fiired arms. I The fixed arms carry the insulating contacts while the, movable arms35 carry the circuit closing contacts, the springs 37 being adapted to make :1

a sharp break in the circuit .to avoid, sparking. From an inspection of Fig, 3, it will be. noted that the spaced contacts 38 which are carried by the circuit making arms 35 are rounded on their extremities'to adapt them to seat within the recess 39 formed within the extremity of the contact 31. The hub portion 33 of the contact wheel is journaled upon a bolt 40 and is provided with an annular recess 41 for the receptionof a spring 42whichis interposed between thehead of said bolt and the inner end of said recess to yieldingly retain the hub 83 against the boss 43 formed in'the wall'of V ried by the hub 33 of the contact wheelis adapted-to be actuated by the spur 45 of the housing 30. By means of this construction, the contact arms are adapted to engage the, fixed contact 31 with a resilient action. A ratchet wheel 44 which is cara pawl 46 (see Fig. 4), said pawl being Thus in V a given zone the pawl 46 is first elevated by the plunger 50 after which the reciproa pivotally mountedat 47 upon areciprocable baror lever 48. Suitable bearing straps 49 V are provided for the support of the bar or lever 48. The extremity of the pawl ,46 is interposed in the path of the upper end of a plunger 50 whichcarries on its lower end a roller 51 whichis adapted to run over a posed at predetermined points alongthe,

' route-of the vehicle and slightly in advance of the tracks .or cam bars 53, whichare laterally ,spaced from the tracks or projections52 to adapt them to engage thearm or lever 5'4Y('see Fig' 4), ,The cam bars 52f maintaining the plunger 50in raised posi "tion until c'am bar 53 operates the lever 54.

The lever 54 is carried by a stub shaft which is, journaled within a boss 56 carried raised member or cam bar 52 (see Figs, 1 and 2). 'The'cam bars 52 are suitably disby the housing 30. .On the inner end of the shaft 575 is mounted a lever arm I57 which carries a cam block 58 which is adapt ed tov engage the roller 59 journaled in the end of thereciprocable bar or lever 48. A

pin J60 which projects laterally from the arm 57 projects into ayoke 6l lwhich is resiliently mounted 'upon'a rod 62.

90, Y The cam bars 52 and V 53 Tare suitably disposed] adj acent the terminals of thedifiierent zones oftravel, so that as the vehicle approaches i cable lever 48 isoperated to effect an angular displacement @45 to the contact wheel,

- thereby makingthe circuit or breaking the s V same as the case be. It will be seen therefore, that it will be impossibleto effect the circuit making or breaking operation without the prior actuation of the-pawl 46 into position to engage the ratchet wheel,

44. The plunger 5O will ,therefore re tained in an upward position by cam bar 52while the contact wheel is being-moved. Theoperation of the controllingmecha nism will now be readily understood. Sup- 1 pose for example, that, the vehicle isap- V proachinga tunnel or subway zone of travel.

First the plunger 50 is raised by the cam bar 52 and retained in elevated position until thelever arm 54 is engaged by the i g cam bar 58, causing thedisplacement ofthe reciprocating bar 48, and causing the insulating contact which under the, conditions mentioned, will be inengag'ement with the fixed contact3l, to be displaced therefrom. and a conducting contact introducedlin its place. Immediately a current passes from the trolley line through line wire9 to the mounted in the housing 30, and thence to the contact 32 to which the wire 11 1s connected. As a consequence, the illuminating contact 31, thence to the hub 83 which is system is energized throughout. On the 'other'hand, as soon as the vehicle reaches the far'end ofthe tunnel or subwayysimi- ,v larly' spaced camj bars 52 "v53will si'mi-fl larly actuate the contact wheels to break thev circuit i and thereby deenergize the illumi-' mating system. Atnight orivhere' thevehif, 'cle travels continually in a, subway or tun;

nel the switch 21 may bei throwntinto cir' I 'cuit closing position to: maintain the ener gization of the illuminatingsystem:1 p

,I'cla-im:

L. The combination vehicle'QOt a trolley line wire, a storage battery carried by said-vehicle,- a system of lights,- anothersystem of lights, suitableconnections for in eluding said systems of lights in circuit,

C with said trolleydine wire; means operated H in circuit'with'saidstorage battery; I

2. The combination "with? a j vehicle, of I at predetermined points" along-theiroute of said vehlcle for success vely i making and breaking. said circuit connections, andmeans" for connecting said" other system etc-lights means carried thereby, for .illumina-ting'the same, said means'being capable of successive 1 energizatlon and deener gizatlon, and means .o automatically operated; at "predetermlned "points of travel forenergizingfsaid' illuminating means on entering a" predetermined zone'of travel and for deener'gizing the illu-w minating means on le'aving sai'd zone" of 1 .travel. i

3. The combination- "with a'vehicle, 0f a I trolley line wire a" Storage battery carried 5 I i by said vehicle, a system of lights, another system of lights,suitable connections forin cluding said systems oflights in" circuit with saidtrolley line wire, means operated at predetermined pointsal'ong the'route of said vehicle for successively [making and breaking" said circuit. connections, ,and 7 means foriconnecting said other system of lightsin circuit with saidstorage battery,

, said means'for connecting sai'd other system" withrs'aid storage battery being provided 7 switch for cuttingoutof circuit the make 7v and break means operated at predetermined" with a branch having aimanually operated I points along the route ,ofthe vehicle.

, cle for energizing said illuminating means] other. means carr ed by SaldVeh1Qle"fOIfQII 4.1The combination with a vehicle, of illuminating means carried therebyymeans" for deriving power from without said vehi,

ergizing saidilluminating means, and means depending uponthe omovementof said vehi it cle for controlling the'energization of said illuminating means, said controlling means being rendered operable at predetermined 'pointsalong the route of saidvehicle, a 4 5. The i combination with a vehiclegof illuminating .means carried thereby, means I qdepending uponfthe movement of said vehi jf clefor energizing said illuminating =means,

' and means depending upon the'ymoveinent" of; said vvehicle for deenergizing' said illucludingjan'element-carried by the" vehicleg the; element; carried by said vehicle F "and an element d-isposed along the route of it saldVGhlClt-B'aIldtldalptedtO cooperatelwith t K '7. The combination with aQvehicl'e, of 11111: I minating means carried the'rebyymeansude pending upon the movement of said vehicle for energizing said illuminating means,' and I mean's depending upon the Inovementofsaid vehicle gfor 'deenergizing said iIluminatingK -means, said deenergizingmeansincludingl I z anaelement carriedbythe vehicle and-am 'f i other element disposed along theioute- V of;

saidfivehicle and adapted toactuatethe ele.-- r ment carried by said ehicle, 5

8. The combination with ar nas; 6f 11111- minating means carried thereby, means" deendingupon the movement ofisaid vehicle or energiz ng "said lluminating means and; (means depending upon the movementof said vehicle for deenergizing said illuminat ing means, said energizing/ means and said 1,,

deenergizlng means including an element carried by the vehicle and another element" 7 disposed along the route of said, vehicle and f adapted to actuatezthe element carried by I the vehicle. we

9. The combination. with a vehicle pro a trolling;instrumentality for renderingsaid 7 illuminating system operative during one zone of travel and inoperative I 'during another zone of travel, I and means for actuat- "ing saidinstrumentality, said means being adapted to be actuated at predetermined points along the route of said vehicle.

vided with an illuminating system ofa con- '10.- In a car, a trolley linewire', mainacar loo 1 illuminatinglights, an automatic make, andv break device for" controlling the energiZation of said lights,--sui table'connections for I including said trolley;line',lights and make o and break';device' in circuit, Qemergency f lightsya storag'ebattery normally connected I to said emergency lights; means for breaking the trolley line circuit," and means for completing the storagebattery circuit.

of said lights, suitable connections f0r-in- 11. In car; atrolley line'wire, main ear p illuminating lights, an automaticmakeandl break device-for controlling,thevenergiz'ation 1 2 cludingsaid trolley line, lights and make I and" break; device fin ir it, emergency lights, a storage battery normally connected to saidemergencylights, means for breaks ing the trolley line circuit, and means for;

completing the storage battery circuit, the

last said means bein arranged to cut out said automatic make andbreak device.

12. In a car, positiveand negative lines, a

main illuminating lights, a conductor provided with a switchconnecting said lights to said positive line, emergency lights, a

V connection extending from said emergency lights to saidmain hghts a conductor for posed between said negative line and emergency lights.

13. In ajcar, positiveand riegativelines,

main illuminating lights, a conductor, provided with a switch connecting, said lights to said positive line, emergency lights, a

connection extending from said emergency 7 lights to said main lights, a conductor for connecting said emergency lights to said negative line, a storage battery interposed between said negative line and emergency lights, an automatic make and break device included in the connection extending between the main lights and emergency lights,

a switch and a short circuiting branch provided with gfOl cutting out said make and break device.

1d. In car, positive andfnegative line wires, main lights, emergency lights, means for connecting said line wires, main lights a and emergency lights in circuit, means for makingfand breakingsaid circuit. at predetermined points along the routeof said car,

a storage battery, and means for connecting said; emergency lights in circuit with said lights; V

15.1111 a car, posit vegand: negative line wires, main lights, emergency lights, means for connecting saidlinezwires, main lights and emergency lights in circuit,,me'ans for making and breaking said circuit at predei termined points along the routeof said car,

a storage battery, and means forconnectmg i said emergency lightsin circuit with said storage battery independently of said main K t lights, and said circuit making and breaking means. v n i 7 WILLIAM S. MENDEN.

lVitnessesz, a

WM; A.,COUR'ILAIND,

7 A1). KNI HT.

Copies (if this mate may bbtained fiv cents each; y addressil g the "Commissi ner of Patenfs. W V Wa.shington, D. G. l 2

storage battery independently of said main 40 

